Norovirus emergency in Ulsan..."Personal hygiene management is important".

[Anchor]
Ulsan is also on alert as the number of patients with norovirus infection, a representative winter epidemic, has recently increased.

The quarantine authorities cautioned that personal hygiene management is the most important as it is a disease without a preventive vaccine.

I'm reporter Ra Kyung-hoon from Ulsan Central Broadcasting Station, JCN.

[Reporter]
The number of patients with norovirus infections, which usually occur in winter, is increasing rapidly.

As of the last week of last year, 291 patients were infected with norovirus nationwide.

It has increased steadily since November last year, increasing 3.6 times in the last five weeks.

In Ulsan, there were 159 patients last year alone amid a steady increase in patients.

In particular, infants and toddlers under the age of 6 account for more than half of all patients.

Norovirus is more prevalent in the middle of winter because the lower the temperature, the higher the survival rate of the virus.

It usually develops through uncooked or contaminated food, and it is easily transmitted through contact with patients or droplets.

[Lee Moo-yeol / Gastroenterologist: It can also be transmitted by contaminated seafood, especially oysters. There may be vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, and especially for those who cannot eat, they are hospitalized for dehydration and die in severe cases.]

In particular, it is very contagious, so even once infected, the immune maintenance period is short and there is a high possibility of reinfection.

The quarantine authorities emphasized that personal hygiene management is the most important thing as there is no preventive vaccine for norovirus.

[Yeo Yoon-hee / Director of Food and Drug Safety, Ulsan City: Please be thorough in personal hygiene, kitchen hygiene, and living environment management. If you suspect symptoms, please contact each district and county health center immediately.]

The peak period of norovirus is until the end of February.

With the Lunar New Year holiday ahead, active hygiene management is needed to prevent the virus.

I'm Ra Kyung-hoon from JCN News.